The government has suspended the implementation of a provision in the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026, which prohibits preaching and hawking in moving public and commercial vehicles.
1960news.com confirms the suspension following public debate over the regulation, particularly concerns about its potential impact on religious expression and evangelism in commercial vehicles.
The restriction is contained in Regulation 141 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026, Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2519. It prohibits drivers and other persons from causing or permitting activities considered a nuisance, including preaching and hawking, in public or commercial vehicles while they are in motion.
Under the provision, persons found guilty of an offence face a fine of between 10 and 50 penalty units, imprisonment for up to eight months, or both.
The regulation has attracted attention from religious leaders and other stakeholders, some of whom have raised concerns about restrictions on preaching, a practice commonly associated with evangelism on public transport in Ghana.
The government’s decision to suspend the implementation comes amid the ongoing public discussion about how the regulation should be applied and its implications for religious activities in commercial vehicles.
However, it remains unclear whether the suspension will be followed by a formal review of the provision or a change in the approach to its enforcement.
As of the time of publication, the government had not issued a public statement detailing the reasons for the suspension, its duration or the next steps regarding Regulation 141.
By 1960news.com
